Senior Editor Tanisha A. Sykes takes you on a 21-day journey to becoming debt-free, as prescribed by author Michelle Singletary.
Day 3:
It was a good day. There was no miscellaneous spending on anything. I’m still triggered at certain times of the day when I walk by Starbucks or scurry past that Deli on the way home. I notice that I’m looking for my fix: A quick, mostly healthy meal to make it through the remainder of the day.
The good news is that I’m realizing that my stops along the way are more habit than hunger. I have my fruits, veggies and yogurt to get me by in between meals and that urge to splurge is quickly going by the wayside. On the savings front, my husband returned our DVR (Hello $18 a month) and I cut our cell phone insurance (Another $30 a month). We told our 16-year-old son: “Don’t break your phone and don’t lose it or you’ll be up a creek!” He responded, Ok, mom! More than anything, in the first few days of the fast, I’ve gained some wisdom:
Lesson 1
Old habits can be broken and new ones created.
Lesson 2
Managing money is more mind-set than dollars and cents.
Lesson 3
Preparation is a key ingredient of successful outcomes.
Lesson 4
Reviewing your bills can save you a tremendous amount of money.
Lesson 5
Delayed gratification is worth the sacrifice–every time.